On December 28, 2018, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the following MOUs with the foreign countries.
Cabinet approved Submission of India’s Second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
On December 28, 2018, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved Submission of India’s second Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change towards fulfilment of the reporting obligation under the Convention.
i. It is India’s second BUR to UNFCCC and consists of five major components —
1.National Circumstances;
2.National Greenhouse Gas Inventory;
3.Mitigation Actions;
4.Finance, Technology and Capacity Building Needs and Support Received and
5.Domestic Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) arrangements.
ii. The BUR has been reviewed by Technical Advisory Committee of Experts chaired by Additional Secretary (Climate Change) and by National Steering Committee chaired by Secretary (EF&CC).
iii. Out of the total 23,06,295 Gigagrams (Gg) COa equivalent (around 2.306 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent) emissions, energy sector accountedfor 73%, IPPU 8%, agriculture 16% and waste sector 3%.
iv. About 12% of emissions were offset by the carbon sink action of forestland, cropland and settlements.
United Nations:
♦ Headquarters: New York, USA.
♦ Secretary-General: Antonio Guterres.
♦ Member states: 193.
Cabinet apprised of two Bilateral MoUs between India and Cuba, and India and South Korea in the area of Biotechnology
On December 28, 2018, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved two Bilateral Memorandums of Understanding signed between India and Cuba, and India and South Korea in the area of Biotechnology.
i. The MoUs were signed on 22nd June 2018 at Havana, Cuba and on 9th July 2018 at New Delhi, respectively.
ii. The MOUs signed with Cuba and South Korea respectively, were in the agreed areas of collaboration and objectives in the field of Science & Technology.
Cuba:
♦ Capital: Havana.
♦ Currency: Cuban peso.
South Korea:
♦ Capital: Seoul.
♦ Currency: South Korean won.
Cabinet approved Framework Agreement between India and Sao Tome &Principe for Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes
On December 28, 2018, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved Framework Agreement between India and Sao Tome & Principe.
i. The MOU was signed on Cooperation in the Exploration and Uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes.
ii. The Framework Agreement was signed in New Delhi, on 7th September 2018.
Sao Tome & Principe:
♦ Capital: Sao Tome.
♦ Currency: Sao Tome & Principe dobra.